Tarpaulin retraction and extension device.

ABSTRACT

A device for covering at least part of a container using a tarpaulin. The device includes a rod to deploy the tarpaulin across the container and an actuator. An arm extends between the actuator and the rod to allow the actuator to rotate the rod, the arm having an arm first end coupled to the rod and an opposed arm second end. The rod is coupled to the container so that the rod second end is movable relative to the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of transportation,and, more particularly, to a tarpaulin retraction and extension deviceusable for example with open top vehicle mounted containers.

BACKGROUND

There are many systems for covering top apertures of truck-movablecontainers, such as open top truck trailers and the bin of dump trucks.Many such systems conveniently roll a tarpaulin covering the topaperture around a rod when the top aperture is uncovered. To facilitateoperation of these system, many are provided with an electric motor.However, if the motor fails, the system becomes inoperable.

Against this background, there exists a need for an improved tarpaulinextension and retraction device. An object of the present invention isto provide such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect there is provided a device for handling a tarpaulin tocover at least part of a container using the tarpaulin, the containerdefining a container bottom wall, a container peripheral wall extendingtherefrom and a container top aperture delimited by a container top edgeof the container peripheral wall substantially opposed to the containerbottom wall, the container top aperture defining an aperture first endand a substantially opposed aperture second end, the tarpaulin defininga tarpaulin first end and a substantially opposed tarpaulin second end,the tarpaulin being secured to the container at the tarpaulin first endsubstantially opposed to the aperture second end and movable betweentarpaulin retracted and extended configurations in which the tarpaulinis respectively substantially retracted from the container top apertureand extended across the container top aperture, the device comprising: arod defining a rod longitudinal axis, the rod being movable between rodfirst and second positions wherein the rod is respectively substantiallyadjacent the aperture first and second ends, the tarpaulin beingmountable to the rod at the tarpaulin second end to allow rolling of thetarpaulin thereonto and unrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when therod is rotated about the rod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly,the actuator assembly including a motor, a crank, and a driving shaftdefining a substantially longitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, theactuator assembly being configurable between a motorized configurationand a manual configuration, wherein, in the motorized configuration, themotor is mechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectivelyrotating the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis whenthe motor is powered, and, in the manual configuration, the motor isuncoupled from the driving shaft and the crank is mechanically coupledto the driving shaft so that the crank is usable to selectively rotatethe driving shaft independently of the motor; and a transmissionassembly between the actuator assembly and the rod, the transmissionassembly being operatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to therod for transmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so thatrotation of the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axiscauses rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis. Rotating therod using the actuator assembly to roll the tarpaulin therearound movesthe rod towards the rod first position to move the tarpaulin to thetarpaulin retracted configuration and rotating the rod using theactuator assembly to unroll the tarpaulin therefrom moves the rodtowards the rod second position to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulinextended configuration.

There may also be provided a device further comprising a biasing elementoperatively coupled to the rod for biasing the rod towards the rodsecond position.

There may also be provided a device wherein the actuator assemblyincludes an intermediate shaft mechanically coupled to the motor so asto be rotatable thereby, the intermediate shaft defining a shaftpassageway extending longitudinally therethrough coaxially with thedriving shaft rotation axis, the driving shaft extending in the shaftpassageway and protruding therefrom, the actuator assembly furthercomprising a shaft coupling element movable between coupling anduncoupling configurations, wherein in the coupling configuration, theshaft coupling element couples the intermediate shaft and driving shaftto each other so that the motor and driving shafts are jointly rotatableabout the driving shaft rotation axis, and in the uncouplingconfiguration, the driving shaft is rotatable about the driving shaftrotation axis independently from the intermediate shaft.

There may also be provided a device wherein the intermediate shaftdefines an intermediate shaft coupling portion and the driving shaftdefines a driving shaft coupling portion, the shaft coupling elementsecuring the intermediate and driving shaft coupling portions to eachother in the coupling configuration.

There may also be provided a device wherein the intermediate and drivingshaft coupling portions are substantially adjacent to each other.

There may also be provided a device wherein the shaft coupling elementincludes a collar, the collar receiving thereinto and overlapping atleast part of each of the intermediate and driving shaft couplingportions in the locking configurations.

There may also be provided a device wherein the intermediate and drivingshaft coupling portions each have a transversal cross-sectionalconfiguration lacking continuous rotational symmetry.

There may also be provided a device wherein the intermediate and drivingshaft coupling portions each have a substantially polygonal transversalcross-sectional configuration.

There may also be provided a device wherein the shaft coupling elementis selectively lockable in the coupling configuration.

There may also be provided a device wherein the shaft coupling elementalso includes a locking pin, the driving shaft coupling portionsdefining a pin receiving aperture extending laterally therethrough, thecollar defining a pair of collar apertures extending laterallytherethrough laterally opposed to each other, wherein, in the couplingconfiguration, the collar apertures are in register with the pinreceiving aperture and the locking pin is insertable through both thecollar apertures and the pin receiving aperture to lock the shaftcoupling element in the coupling configuration.

There may also be provided a device wherein the crank is removablymountable to a protruding portion of the driving shaft that protrudesfrom the intermediate shaft opposite to the transmission.

There may also be provided a device wherein the device defines a crankreceiving element for receiving the crank thereinto when the crank isdetached from the protruding portion.

There may also be provided a device wherein the driving shaft isprovided with a driving shaft gear extending circumferentiallytherearound, the crank being part of a crank assembly including a crankgear and a crank assembly body, the crank being operatively coupled tothe crank gear for selectively rotating the crank gear relative to thecrank assembly body, the crank assembly body being mountable to aremainder of the actuator assembly so that the crank and driving shaftgears are engaged with each other so that rotation of the crank causesrotation of the driving shaft.

There may also be provided a device further comprising a worm gearbetween the motor and the intermediate shaft coupling the motor and theintermediate shaft to each other so that the motor can rotate theintermediate shaft.

There may also be provided a device wherein the worm gear includes aworm driven by the motor and a worm wheel extending radially outwardlyfrom the intermediate shaft and jointly rotatable therewith.

There may also be provided a device wherein the transmission assembly isconfigured and sized so that a distance between the driving shaft andthe rod remains substantially constant as the rod moves between the rodfirst and second positions.

There may also be provided a device further comprising a mountingbracket secured to the actuator and transmission assemblies for mountingthe actuator and transmission assemblies to the container peripheralwall, the mounting bracket being configured and sized for allowingvertical movements of the actuator and transmission assemblies relativeto the container peripheral wall.

There may also be provided a device wherein the mounting bracketincludes a base fixedly securable to the container peripheral wall and apair of levers extending substantially parallel to each other andvertically spaced apart from each other, each lever being pivotallymounted at one end thereof to the base and pivotally mounted at anotherend thereof to one of the motor and transmission assemblies.

There may also be provided a device wherein the transmission assemblyincludes an elongated arm defining an arm longitudinal axis, the armdefining substantially opposed arm first and second ends, the arm firstend being substantially adjacent to the driving shaft and the arm secondend being substantially adjacent to the rod, the arm being operativelycoupled to the driving shaft and rod so that rotation of the drivingshaft about the driving shaft rotation axis causes rotation of the armabout the arm longitudinal axis, which in turn causes rotation of therod about the rod longitudinal axis, the arm extending substantiallyperpendicular to the rod and being pivotable relative to the drivingshaft between arm first and second positions, wherein the rod isrespectively in the rod first and second positions.

There may also be provided a device wherein the arm is a fixed lengtharm.

There may also be provided a device wherein the transmission assemblyincludes a first 90 degrees gearbox between the arm and the drivingshaft and a second 90 degrees gearbox between the arm and the rod, thearm being coupled to the first 90 degrees gearbox using a universaljoint to allow pivotal movement of the arm between the arm first andsecond positions as the rod moves between the rod first and secondpositions.

In another broad aspect, there is provided a covered vehicle container,comprising: a container defining a container bottom wall, a containertop aperture above the container bottom wall, opposed container firstand second ends and opposed container first and second sides eachextending between the container first and second ends, the containerdefining at least one tarpaulin support extending between the containerfirst and second ends across the container top aperture; a tarpaulindefining tarpaulin first and second ends, the tarpaulin being secured tothe container first end substantially adjacent to the tarpaulin firstend, the tarpaulin being movable between tarpaulin retracted andextended configurations in which the tarpaulin is respectivelysubstantially retracted from the container top aperture and extendedacross the container top aperture; and a device for handling thetarpaulin, the device including: a rod defining a rod longitudinal axis,the rod being movable between rod first and second positions wherein therod is respectively substantially adjacent the container first andsecond ends, the tarpaulin being mountable to the rod at the tarpaulinsecond end to allow rolling of the tarpaulin thereonto and unrolling ofthe tarpaulin therefrom when the rod is rotated about the rodlongitudinal axis; an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly includinga motor, a crank, and a driving shaft defining a substantiallylongitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, the actuator assembly beingconfigurable between a motorized configuration and a manualconfiguration, wherein, in the motorized configuration, the motor ismechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotating thedriving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis when the motor ispowered, and, in the manual configuration, the motor is uncoupled fromthe driving shaft and the crank is mechanically coupled to the drivingshaft so that the crank is usable to selectively rotate the drivingshaft independently of the motor; a transmission assembly between theactuator assembly and the rod, the transmission assembly beingoperatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to the rod fortransmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so that rotationof the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis causesrotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis; and a biasingelement operatively coupled to the rod for biasing the rod towards therod second position. Rotating the rod using the actuator assembly toroll the tarpaulin therearound moves the rod towards the rod firstposition to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin retracted configurationand rotating the rod using the actuator assembly to unroll the tarpaulintherefrom moves the rod towards the rod second position to move thetarpaulin to the tarpaulin extended configuration.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theactuator assembly includes an intermediate shaft mechanically coupled tothe motor so as to be rotatable thereby, the intermediate shaft defininga shaft passageway extending longitudinally therethrough coaxially withthe driving shaft rotation axis, the driving shaft extending in theshaft passageway and protruding therefrom, the actuator assembly furthercomprising a shaft coupling element movable between coupling anduncoupling configurations, wherein in the coupling configuration, theshaft coupling element couples the intermediate shaft and driving shaftto each other so that the motor and driving shafts are jointly rotatableabout the driving shaft rotation axis, and in the uncouplingconfiguration, the driving shaft is rotatable about the driving shaftrotation axis independently from the intermediate shaft.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theintermediate shaft defines an intermediate shaft coupling portion andthe driving shaft defines a driving shaft coupling portion, the shaftcoupling element securing the intermediate and driving shaft couplingportions to each other in the coupling configuration.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theintermediate and driving shaft coupling portions are substantiallyadjacent to each other and wherein the shaft coupling element includes acollar, the collar receiving thereinto and overlapping at least part ofeach of the intermediate and driving shaft coupling portions in thelocking configurations.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein the crankis removably mountable to a protruding portion of the driving shaft thatprotrudes from the intermediate shaft opposite to the transmission.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein thedriving shaft is provided with a driving shaft gear extendingcircumferentially around part thereof, the crank being part of a crankassembly including a crank gear and a crank assembly body, the crankbeing operatively coupled to the crank gear for selectively rotating thecrank gear relative to the crank assembly body, the crank assembly bodybeing removable mountable to a remainder of the drive assembly so thatthe crank and driving shaft gear are engaged to each other so thatrotation of the crank is causes rotation the driving shaft.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container furthercomprising a worm gear between the motor and the intermediate shaftcoupling the motor and the intermediate shaft to each other so that themotor can rotate the intermediate shaft.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein thetransmission assembly includes an elongated arm defining an armlongitudinal axis, the arm defining substantially opposed arm first andsecond ends, the arm first end being substantially adjacent to thecontainer bottom wall and the arm second end being substantiallyadjacent to the container top aperture, the arm being operativelycoupled to the driving shaft and rod so that rotation of the drivingshaft about the driving shaft rotation axis causes rotation of the armabout the arm longitudinal axis, which in turn causes rotation of therod about the rod longitudinal axis, the arm extending substantiallyperpendicular to the rod and being pivotable relative to the drivingshaft between arm first and second positions, wherein the rod isrespectively in the rod first and second positions.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein the armis a fixed length arm.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container furthercomprising a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket including a basefixedly mounted to the container and a bracket mobile portion movablevertically relative to the container, the arm being mechanically coupledto the bracket mobile portion at the arm first end so that the arm firstend is vertically movable along with the bracket mobile portion.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein themounting bracket includes a pair of levers extending substantiallyparallel to each other and vertically spaced apart from each other, eachlever being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the base andpivotally mounted at another end thereof to the bracket mobile portion.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theactuator assembly is mounted to the bracket mobile portion.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein the baseis mounted to the container on the container first side.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein the baseis mounted substantially midway between the container first and secondends.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theactuator assembly is mounted to the container substantially adjacent toone of the container first and second ends, the transmission includingan intermediate gearbox and an extension shaft, the extension shaftextending between the driving shaft and the intermediate gearbox, theintermediate gearbox being mounted to the bracket mobile portion, andthe arm being mounted to the intermediate gearbox, the actuatorassembly, extension shaft, intermediate gearbox and arm beingmechanically coupled to each other so that rotation of the driving shaftabout the shaft longitudinal axis causes rotation of the arm about thearm longitudinal axis.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theactuator assembly includes a crank assembly, the crank assemblyincluding the crank and a crank assembly shaft axially rotatable by thecrank, the crank assembly shaft being coupled to the driving shaftaxially through a bearing opposed to the crank, the bearing allowing thecrank assembly shaft and the driving shaft to rotate freely relative toeach other, the actuator assembly including a collar 60 selectivelymovable so as to overlap jointly both the crank assembly shaft anddriving shaft, the collar, crank assembly shaft and driving shaft beingconfigured and sized so that with the collar overlapping the crankassembly shaft and driving shaft, the crank assembly shaft and drivingshaft are jointly rotatable.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein thecollar is further selectively movable so that the crank assembly shaftand driving shaft are rotatable independently from each other.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein the motorand the driving shaft are mounted to the bracket mobile portion, theactuator assembly further including a crank shaft provided substantiallyadjacent one of the container first and second ends, the crank beingmounted to the crank shaft so as to rotate the latter about a crankshaft rotation axis, and extension shaft being provided between thecrank shaft and the driving shaft to transmit rotations of the crankshaft to the driving shaft to rotate the latter.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein theextension shaft is coupled to the driving and crank shafts withuniversal joints.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein thetransmission assembly includes a first 90 degrees gearbox between thearm and the driving shaft and a second 90 degrees gearbox between thearm and the rod, the arm being coupled to the first 90 degrees gearboxusing a universal joint to allow pivotal movement of the arm between thearm first and second positions as the rod moves between the rod firstand second positions.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container furthercomprising a support rod mounted to the tarpaulin so as to extendsubstantially laterally thereacross at a location intermediate thetarpaulin first and second ends.

There may also be provided a covered vehicle container wherein the atleast one tarpaulin support includes at least two arches spaced apartfrom each other and each extending across the container top aperturebetween the container first and second ends.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a device for handling atarpaulin over a container top aperture defining an aperture first endand a substantially opposed aperture second end, the tarpaulin defininga tarpaulin first end and a substantially opposed tarpaulin second end,the tarpaulin being secured to the container at the tarpaulin first endsubstantially opposed to the aperture second end and movable betweentarpaulin retracted and extended configurations in which the tarpaulinis respectively substantially retracted from the container top apertureand extended across the container top aperture, the device comprising: arod defining a rod longitudinal axis, the rod being movable between rodfirst and second positions wherein the rod is respectively substantiallyadjacent the aperture first and second end, the tarpaulin beingmountable to the rod at the tarpaulin second end to allow rolling of thetarpaulin thereonto and unrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when therod is rotated about the rod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly,the actuator assembly including a motor, a crank, and a driving shaftdefining a substantially longitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, theactuator assembly being configurable between a motorized configurationand a manual configuration, wherein, in the motorized configuration, themotor is mechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectivelyrotating the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis whenthe motor is powered, and, in the manual configuration, the motor isuncoupled from the driving shaft and the crank is mechanically coupledto the driving shaft so that the crank is usable to selectively rotatethe driving shaft independently of the motor; a transmission assemblybetween the actuator assembly and the rod, the transmission assemblybeing operatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to the rod fortransmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so that rotationof the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis causesrotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis, the transmissionassembly including an elongated arm defining an arm longitudinal axis,the arm defining substantially opposed arm first and second ends, thearm first end being substantially adjacent to the driving shaft and thearm second end being substantially adjacent to the container topaperture, the arm being operatively coupled to the driving shaft and rodso that rotation of the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotationaxis causes rotation of the arm about the arm longitudinal axis, whichin turn causes rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis, thearm extending substantially perpendicular to the rod and being pivotablerelative to the driving shaft between arm first and second positions,wherein the rod is respectively in the rod first and second positions;and a biasing element operatively coupled to the rod for biasing the rodtowards the rod second position. Rotating the rod using the actuatorassembly to roll the tarpaulin therearound moves the rod towards the rodfirst position to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin retractedconfiguration and rotating the rod using the actuator assembly to unrollthe tarpaulin therefrom moves the rod towards the rod second position tomove the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin extended configuration.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided an actuator assembly, theactuator assembly including a motor, a crank, and a driving shaftdefining a substantially longitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, theactuator assembly being configurable between a motorized configurationand a manual configuration, wherein, in the motorized configuration, themotor is mechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectivelyrotating the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis whenthe motor is powered, and, in the manual configuration, the motor isuncoupled from the driving shaft and the crank is mechanically coupledto the driving shaft so that the crank is usable to selectively rotatethe driving shaft independently of the motor.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the actuatorassembly includes an intermediate shaft mechanically coupled to themotor so as to be rotatable thereby, the intermediate shaft defining ashaft passageway extending longitudinally therethrough coaxially withthe driving shaft rotation axis, the driving shaft extending in theshaft passageway and protruding therefrom, the actuator assembly furthercomprising a shaft coupling element movable between coupling anduncoupling configurations, wherein in the coupling configuration, theshaft coupling element couples the intermediate shaft and driving shaftto each other so that the motor and driving shafts are jointly rotatableabout the driving shaft rotation axis, and in the uncouplingconfiguration, the driving shaft is rotatable about the driving shaftrotation axis independently from the intermediate shaft.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the intermediateshaft defines an intermediate shaft coupling portion and the drivingshaft defines a driving shaft coupling portion, the shaft couplingelement securing the intermediate and driving shaft coupling portions toeach other in the coupling configuration.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the intermediateand driving shaft coupling portions are substantially adjacent to eachother.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the shaftcoupling element includes a collar, the collar receiving thereinto andoverlapping at least part of each of the intermediate and driving shaftcoupling portions in the locking configurations.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the intermediateand driving shaft coupling portions each have a transversalcross-sectional configuration lacking continuous rotational symmetry.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the intermediateand driving shaft coupling portions each have a substantially polygonaltransversal cross-sectional configuration.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the shaftcoupling element is selectively lockable in the coupling configuration.

There may also be provided an actuator assembly wherein the shaftcoupling element also includes a locking pin, the driving shaft couplingportions defining a pin receiving aperture extending laterallytherethrough, the collar defining a pair of collar apertures extendinglaterally therethrough laterally opposed to each other, wherein, in thecoupling configuration, the collar apertures are in register with thepin receiving aperture and the locking pin is insertable through boththe collar apertures and the pin receiving aperture to lock the shaftcoupling element in the coupling configuration.

In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a device forhandling a tarpaulin to cover at least part of a container using thetarpaulin, the container defining a container bottom wall, a containerperipheral wall extending therefrom and a container top aperturedelimited by a container top edge of the container peripheral wallsubstantially opposed to the container bottom wall, the container topaperture defining an aperture first end and a substantially opposedaperture second end, the tarpaulin defining a tarpaulin first end and asubstantially opposed tarpaulin second end, the tarpaulin being securedto the container at the tarpaulin first end substantially opposed to theaperture second end and movable between tarpaulin retracted and extendedconfigurations in which the tarpaulin is respectively substantiallyretracted from the container top aperture and extended across thecontainer top aperture, the device comprising: a rod defining a rodlongitudinal axis, the rod being movable between rod first and secondpositions wherein the rod is respectively substantially adjacent theaperture first and second ends, the tarpaulin being mountable to the rodat the tarpaulin second end to allow rolling of the tarpaulin thereontoand unrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when the rod is rotated aboutthe rod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly, the actuator assemblyincluding an actuator and a driving shaft rotatable about a longitudinaldriving shaft rotation axis by the actuator; and a transmission assemblybetween the actuator assembly and the rod, the transmission assemblybeing operatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to the rod fortransmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so that rotationof the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis by theactuator causes rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis, thetransmission assembly including an elongated arm defining an armlongitudinal axis, the arm defining substantially opposed arm first andsecond ends, the arm first end being substantially adjacent to thecontainer bottom wall and the arm second end being substantiallyadjacent to the container top aperture, the arm being operativelycoupled to the driving shaft and rod so that rotation of the drivingshaft about the driving shaft rotation axis by the actuator causesrotation of the arm about the arm longitudinal axis, which in turncauses rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis, the armextending substantially perpendicular to the rod and being pivotablerelative to the driving shaft between arm first and second positions,wherein the rod is respectively in the rod first and second positions.Wherein rotating the rod using the actuator assembly to roll thetarpaulin therearound moves the rod towards the rod first position tomove the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin retracted configuration and rotatingthe rod using the actuator assembly to unroll the tarpaulin therefrommoves the rod towards the rod second position to move the tarpaulin tothe tarpaulin extended configuration.

There may also be provided a device wherein the arm is a fixed lengtharm.

There may also be provided a device wherein the transmission assemblyincludes a first 90 degrees gearbox between the arm and the drivingshaft and a second 90 degrees gearbox between the arm and the rod, thearm being coupled to the first 90 degrees gearbox using a universaljoint to allow pivotal movement of the arm between the arm first andsecond positions as the rod moves between the rod first and secondpositions.

There may also be provided a device wherein the actuator assemblyincludes a crank operatively coupled to the driving shaft for rotatingthe driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis.

There may also be provided a device further comprising a mountingbracket secured to the actuator and transmission assemblies for mountingthe actuator and transmission assemblies to the container, the mountingbracket being configured and sized for allowing vertical movements ofthe arm relative to the container peripheral wall.

There may also be provided a device wherein the mounting bracketincludes a base fixedly mountable to the container and a bracket mobileportion movable vertically relative to the base, the arm beingmechanically coupled to the bracket mobile portion at the arm first endso that the arm first end is vertically movable along with the bracketmobile portion.

There may also be provided a device wherein the transmission assemblyincludes a universal joint between the bracket mobile portion and thearm for allowing pivotal movements of the arm relative to the mountingbracket.

Advantageously, in some embodiments, the proposed device can bemanufactured using a relatively small quantity of materials. When theelectric motor is disengaged from the driving shaft, the crank can beused to operate the proposed device manually using the crank. The devicecan therefore be operated if the motor is not powered or if the motorfails. In some embodiments, change between the manual and motorizedconfigurations is achieved using a relatively small number of ergonomicsteps.

In some embodiments, the proposed device may automatically achieve themanual configuration from the motorized configuration when the crank isused, instead of requiring an action from the intended user.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a device for handling atarpaulin to cover at least part of a container using the tarpaulin, thecontainer defining a container bottom wall, a container peripheral wallextending therefrom and a container top aperture delimited by acontainer top edge of the container peripheral wall substantiallyopposed to the container bottom wall, the container top aperturedefining an aperture first end and a substantially opposed aperturesecond end, the tarpaulin defining a tarpaulin first end and asubstantially opposed tarpaulin second end, the tarpaulin being securedto the container at the tarpaulin first end substantially opposed to theaperture second end and movable between tarpaulin retracted and extendedconfigurations in which the tarpaulin is respectively substantiallyretracted from the container top aperture and extended across thecontainer top aperture, the device comprising: a rod defining a rodlongitudinal axis, the rod being movable between rod first and secondpositions wherein the rod is respectively substantially adjacent theaperture first and second ends, the tarpaulin being mountable to the rodat the tarpaulin second end to allow rolling of the tarpaulin thereontoand unrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when the rod is rotated aboutthe rod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly, the actuator assemblyincluding an actuator and a driving shaft defining a substantiallylongitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, the actuator beingmechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotating thedriving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis; and a transmissionassembly between the actuator assembly and the rod, the transmissionassembly being operatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to therod for transmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so thatrotation of the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axiscauses rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis; wherein thetransmission assembly is configured and sized so that a distance betweenthe driving shaft and the rod remains substantially constant as the rodmoves between the rod first and second positions; and wherein rotatingthe rod using the actuator to roll the tarpaulin therearound moves therod towards the rod first position to move the tarpaulin to thetarpaulin retracted configuration and rotating the rod using theactuator to unroll the tarpaulin therefrom moves the rod towards the rodsecond position to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin extendedconfiguration.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a covered vehiclecontainer, comprising: a container defining a container bottom wall, acontainer top aperture above the container bottom wall, opposedcontainer first and second ends and opposed container first and secondsides each extending between the container first and second ends, thecontainer defining at least one tarpaulin support extending between thecontainer first and second ends across the container top aperture; atarpaulin defining tarpaulin first and second ends, the tarpaulin beingsecured to the container first end substantially adjacent to thetarpaulin first end, the tarpaulin being movable between tarpaulinretracted and extended configurations in which the tarpaulin isrespectively substantially retracted from the container top aperture andextended across the container top aperture; and a device for handlingthe tarpaulin, the device including: a rod defining a rod longitudinalaxis, the rod being movable between rod first and second positionswherein the rod is respectively substantially adjacent the containerfirst and second ends, the tarpaulin being mounted to the rod at thetarpaulin second end to allow rolling of the tarpaulin thereonto andunrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when the rod is rotated about therod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly, the actuator assemblyincluding an actuator and a driving shaft defining a substantiallylongitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, the actuator beingmechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotating thedriving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis; a transmissionassembly between the actuator assembly and the rod, the transmissionassembly being operatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to therod for transmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so thatrotation of the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axiscauses rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis; and abiasing element operatively coupled to the rod for biasing the rodtowards the rod second position; wherein the transmission assemblyincludes an elongated arm defining an arm longitudinal axis, the armbeing a fixed length arm and defining substantially opposed arm firstand second ends, the arm first end being substantially adjacent to thecontainer bottom wall and the arm second end being substantiallyadjacent to the container top aperture, the arm being operativelycoupled to the driving shaft and rod so that rotation of the drivingshaft about the driving shaft rotation axis causes rotation of the armabout the arm longitudinal axis, which in turn causes rotation of therod about the rod longitudinal axis, the arm extending substantiallyperpendicular to the rod and being pivotable relative to the drivingshaft between arm first and second positions, wherein the rod isrespectively in the rod first and second positions; wherein the arm isoperatively coupled to the container and to the actuator assembly at thearm first end so that a vertical distance between the arm first end andthe container bottom wall is allowed to vary as the rod moves betweenthe rod first and second positions; wherein rotating the rod using theactuator assembly to roll the tarpaulin therearound moves the rodtowards the rod first position to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulinretracted configuration and rotating the rod using the actuator assemblyto unroll the tarpaulin therefrom moves the rod towards the rod secondposition to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin extended configuration.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictivedescription of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example onlywith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrates a container and a device forhandling a tarpaulin to cover at least part of a container using thetarpaulin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thetarpaulin being shown in a configuration intermediate a retractedconfiguration and an extend configuration;

FIG. 2, in a perspective view, illustrates the container and device ofFIG. 1, the tarpaulin being shown in the retracted configuration;

FIG. 3, in a perspective view, illustrates the container and device ofFIGS. 1 and 2, the tarpaulin being shown in the extended configuration;

FIG. 4, in a perspective view, illustrates an actuator assembly part ofthe device of FIGS. 1 to 3, the actuator assembly being shown in amotorized configuration;

FIG. 5, in a perspective view, illustrates the actuator assembly of FIG.4, the actuator assembly being shown in a manual configuration;

FIG. 6, in a side elevation view, illustrates a mounting bracket part ofthe device of FIGS. 1 to 3, along with the actuator assembly of FIGS. 4and 5 and part of a transmission assembly part of the device of FIGS. 1to 3;

FIG. 7, in a perspective view, illustrates the mounting bracket of FIG.6;

FIG. 8, in a partial perspective exploded view, illustrates the actuatorassembly of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 9, in a cross-sectional view along section line IX-IX of FIG. 7,illustrates the actuator assembly of FIGS. 4, 5 and 8 in the motorizedconfiguration;

FIG. 10, in a cross-sectional view along section line IX-IX of FIG. 7,illustrates the actuator assembly of FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9 in the manualconfiguration;

FIG. 11, in a partial perspective view, illustrates a first embodimentof a biasing element usable in the device of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 12, in a perspective view of bubble XII of FIG. 1, illustrates asecond embodiment of a biasing element usable in the device of FIGS. 1to 3;

FIG. 13, in a perspective view of bubble XIII of FIG. 1, illustrates athird embodiment of a biasing element usable in the device of FIGS. 1 to3;

FIG. 14, in a perspective view of bubble XIV OF FIG. 1, illustrates anarch part of the container of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 15, in a side cross-sectional view along section line XV-XV of FIG.XIV, illustrates the tarpaulin of FIGS. 1 to 3, a long with a supportrod usable to support a middle portion of the tarpaulin when the letteris in a tarpaulin extended configuration;

FIG. 16, in a perspective view, illustrates an alternative embodiment ofan actuator assembly usable in the device of FIGS. 1 to 3, the actuatorassembly being shown in a manual configuration;

FIG. 17, in a perspective partially exploded view, illustrates theactuator assembly of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18, in a partial side-cross-sectional view, illustrates theactuator assembly of FIGS. 16 and 17 in the motorized configuration;

FIG. 19, in a perspective view, illustrates alternative embodiments ofan actuator assembly and a transmission assembly usable in the device ofFIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 20, in a perspective view, illustrates an other alternativeembodiment of an actuator assembly and a transmission assembly usable inthe device of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 21, in a perspective view, illustrates yet an other alternativeembodiment of an actuator assembly and a transmission assembly usable inthe device of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 22, in a perspective view, illustrates the actuator assembly ofFIG. 21;

FIG. 23, in a cross-sectional view along section line XXIII-XXIII ofFIG. 22, illustrates part of the actuator assembly of FIG. 21 in themotorized configuration;

FIG. 24, in a cross-sectional view along section line XXIII-XXIII ofFIG. 22, illustrates part of the actuator assembly of FIG. 22 in themanual configuration;

FIG. 25, in a partial perspective view, illustrates yet an otheralternative embodiment of an actuator assembly and a transmissionassembly usable in the device of FIGS. 1 to 3 shown here with a crankextension shaft thereof in a retracted configuration; and

FIG. 26, in a partial perspective view, the actuator assembly of FIG. 25shown here with the crank extension shaft in an extended configuration;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 for example, there is shown a device 10 for handlinga tarpaulin 12 to cover at least part of a container 14 using thetarpaulin 12. Typically, the container 14 defines a container bottomwall 16, a container peripheral wall 18 extending therefrom and acontainer top aperture 20 delimited by a container top edge 19 of thecontainer peripheral wall 18 substantially opposed to the containerbottom wall 16. The present invention is however also usable to coverother structures that may lack the container bottom wall 16 or part ofthe container peripheral wall 18.

The container top aperture 20 defines an aperture first end 24 and asubstantially opposed aperture second end 26. The tarpaulin 12 defines atarpaulin first end 28 and a substantially opposed tarpaulin second end30, as seen for example in FIG. 15. The tarpaulin 12 is secured to thecontainer 14 at the tarpaulin first end 28 substantially opposed to theaperture second end 26 and is movable between tarpaulin retracted andextended configurations in which the tarpaulin 12 is respectivelysubstantially retracted from the container top aperture and 20 extendedacross the container top aperture 20, as seen respectively in FIGS. 2and 3.

Returning to FIG. 1, the container 14 defines opposed container firstand second ends 11 and 13 and opposed container first and second sides15 and 17 each extending between the container first and second ends 11and 13. The aperture first and second ends 24 and 26 are providedrespectively at the container first and second ends 11 and 13.

The container 14 is typically part of a vehicle or a trailer to bepulled by a vehicle. For example, the container 14 is mountable on aplatform truck, an open top truck trailer or the bin of a dump truck,among other possibilities. However, the device 10 is usable with othersuitable containers 14. In some embodiments, the device 10 is usable tocover a railroad car.

It should be noted that the aperture first and second ends 24 and 26 arenot necessarily at the front or rear of the container 14, front and rearbeing related to the direction in which the container 14 is moved by thevehicle. As shown in the drawings, the aperture first and second ends 24and 26 may be on edges of the container 14 that extend parallel to thedirection of motion of the container 14 in typical operation. In thecontext of a movable container 14, FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a case inwhich the container 14 is moved in a direction perpendicular to a linejoining the aperture first and second ends 24 and 26. The tarpaulin 12is therefore retracted laterally relative to the direction of motion.However, it is within the scope of the invention to have tarpaulins 12retractable along the direction of motion.

The term “substantially” is used throughout this document to indicatevariations in the thus qualifies terms. These variations are variationsthat do not materially affect the manner in which the invention worksand can be due, for example, to uncertainty in manufacturing processesor to small deviations from a nominal value that do not causesignificant changes to the invention. These variations are to beinterpreted from the point of view of the person skilled in the art.Also, directional terminology such as below and horizontal, amongothers, is used in this document and refer to the device 10 andcontainer 14 in a typical operational configuration. This terminology isused for clarity reasons and should not be used to restrict the scope ofthe appended claims unless explicitly mentioned in the claims.

The tarpaulin 12 may be directly secured to the container 14, or may besecured thereto indirectly, for example through anchoring straps (notshown in the drawings) that extend between the tarpaulin 12, at thetarpaulin first end 28 for example, and the container 14. When present,the anchoring straps are secured to the container 14, for example to thecontainer peripheral wall 18 below the aperture first end 24. Thetarpaulin 12 is secured to the container 14 substantially opposed to theaperture second end 26 so that when extended, the tarpaulin 12 extendsacross the container top aperture 20. To that effect, the tarpaulin 12may be secured to the container peripheral wall 18 below the aperturefirst end 24 or adjacent the aperture first end 24, among otherpossibilities.

The device 10 includes a rod 32, an actuator assembly 34 and atransmission assembly 36. The transmission assembly 36 is providedbetween the rod 32 and the actuator assembly 34 and transmits rotationproduced in the actuator assembly 34 to the rod 32 so that the lattercan be used to extend and withdraw the tarpaulin 12.

More specifically, the rod 32 defines a rod longitudinal axis 38. Therod 32 is movable between rod first and second positions, seenrespectively in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the rod 32 is respectivelysubstantially adjacent the aperture first and second ends 24 and 26. Thetarpaulin 12 is mountable to the rod 32 at the tarpaulin second end 30to allow rolling of the tarpaulin 12 thereonto and unrolling of thetarpaulin 12 therefrom when the rod 32 is rotated about the rodlongitudinal axis 38.

As seen for example in FIGS. 4 and 5, the actuator assembly 34 includesa motor 40, a crank 42, and a driving shaft 44 defining a substantiallylongitudinal driving shaft rotation axis 46. In some embodiments, butnot necessarily, the actuator assembly 34 also includes an actuator body47 to which the motor 40, crank 42, and driving shaft 44 are mounted.The actuator assembly 34 is configurable between a motorizedconfiguration and a manual configuration, seen for example respectivelyin FIGS. 4 and 5. In the motorized configuration, the motor 40 ismechanically coupled to the driving shaft 44 for selectively rotatingthe driving shaft 44 about the driving shaft rotation axis 46 when themotor 40 is powered. In the manual configuration, the motor 40 isuncoupled from the driving shaft 44 and the crank 42 is mechanicallycoupled to the driving shaft 44 so that the crank 42 is usable toselectively rotate the driving shaft 44 independently of the motor 40.More details regarding the structure and operation of the actuatorassembly 34 are provided hereinbelow.

The motor 40 is any suitable motor, such as for example andnon-limitingly an electrical motor, an hydraulic motor or a pneumaticmotor connected to a suitable power supply and to a controller (both notshown in the drawings) in a conventional manner. The controller allowsto selectively cause the motor 40 to turn in a selected direction bysuitably powering the motor 40, and to selectively remove power to themotor 40.

The transmission assembly 36 is provided between the actuator assembly34 and the rod 32. The transmission assembly 36 is operatively coupledto the actuator assembly 34 and to the rod 32 for transmitting rotationsof the driving shaft 44 to the rod 32 so that rotation of the drivingshaft 44 about the driving shaft rotation axis 46 causes rotation of therod 32 about the rod longitudinal axis 38. More details regarding thestructure and operation of the transmission assembly 36 are providedhereinbelow.

Rotating the rod 32 using the actuator assembly 34 to roll the tarpaulin12 therearound moves the rod 32 towards the rod first position to movethe tarpaulin 12 to the tarpaulin retracted configuration. Rotating therod 32 using the actuator assembly 34 to unroll the tarpaulin 12therefrom moves the rod 32 towards the rod second position to move thetarpaulin 12 to the tarpaulin extended configuration. By selecting themanual or motorized configuration of the actuator assembly 34, thedevice 10 can be operated respectively manually, without an externalpower source, and motorized, by energizing the motor 40 with a suitablepower source.

Returning to FIG. 1, typically, at least one biasing element 48 isoperatively coupled to the rod 32 for biasing the rod 32 towards the rodsecond position. Indeed, in a typical embodiment, the tarpaulin 12 isnot rigid enough to push the rod 32 towards the rod second position whenthe tarpaulin 12 is unrolled from the rod 32. Therefore, this movementmust be caused separately, for example using the biasing element 48.However, in alternative embodiments, this movement may be provided inany other suitable manner, for example passively if the tarpaulin isrigid enough, or under the action of gravity if the top apertureperipheral edge 22 is slanted. In yet other embodiments, a motor may beused to move the rod 32 towards the rod second position. Movements ofthe rod 32 towards the rod first position are usually automaticallyachieved are rolling the tarpaulin 12 around the rod 32 reduces adistance between the rod and the aperture first end 24.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, an exemplary embodiment of the actuatorassembly 34 is now described in greater details. The reader skilled inthe art will appreciate that different actuator assemblies are withinthe scope of the appended claims. Non-limiting examples of alternativeactuator assemblies are described hereinbelow.

In the actuator assembly 34, the motor 40 is not directly coupled to thedriving shaft 44. Instead, the actuator assembly 34 includes anintermediate shaft 52 mechanically coupled to the motor 40 so as to berotatable thereby and a shaft coupling element 54. The intermediateshaft 52 defines a shaft passageway 53 extending longitudinallytherethrough coaxially with the driving shaft rotation axis 46. Thedriving shaft 44 extends in the shaft passageway 53 and protrudestherefrom. In the actuator assembly 34, the driving shaft 44 protrudesat both ends from the shaft passageway 53. However, in other embodimentsthe driving shaft 44 may protrude only at one end thereof from the shaftpassageway 53.

The shaft coupling element 54 is movable between coupling and uncouplingconfigurations, seen respectively in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the couplingconfiguration, the shaft coupling element 54 couples the intermediateshaft 52 and driving shaft 44 to each other so that the motor 40 anddriving shafts 44 are jointly rotatable about the driving shaft rotationaxis 46. In the uncoupling configuration, the driving shaft 44 isrotatable about the driving shaft rotation axis 46 independently fromthe intermediate shaft 52, and therefore independently from the motor40.

The shaft coupling element 54 may take any suitable form. The shaftcoupling element 54 takes the form of an element that may selectivelycouple the driving and intermediate shafts 44 and 52 to each other sothat the intermediate shafts 44 and 52 are jointly rotatable.

For example, and non-limitingly, intermediate shaft 52 defines anintermediate shaft coupling portion 56 and the driving shaft 44 definesa driving shaft coupling portion 58. The shaft coupling element 54secures the intermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58to each other in the coupling configuration. In the uncouplingconfiguration, the intermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56and 58 are free to rotate relative to each other. Typically, theintermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58 aresubstantially adjacent to each other.

For example, the intermediate shaft 52 includes a substantiallycylindrical intermediate shaft main portion 57 and the intermediateshaft coupling portion 56 extends integrally from the intermediate shaftmain portion 57 at one end thereof so that the intermediate shaft mainportion 57 and intermediate shaft coupling portion 56 are jointlyrotatable. Similarly, the driving shaft 44 includes a substantiallycylindrical driving shaft main portion 59 and the driving shaft couplingportion 58 extends integrally from the driving shaft main portion 59 atone end thereof so that the driving shaft main portion 59 and drivingshaft coupling portion 58 are jointly rotatable. The driving shaft mainportion 59 extends through the intermediate shaft coupling and mainportions 56 and 57 and the driving shaft coupling portion 58 protrudesfrom the intermediate shaft 52.

In a specific embodiment, the shaft coupling element 54 includes acollar 60. The collar 60 receives thereinto and overlaps at least partof each of the intermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and58 in the coupling configuration. In the uncoupling configuration, thecollar 60 is completely removed from the intermediate and driving shaftcoupling portions 56 and 58, or overlaps only one of the intermediateand driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58.

The collar 60 may be coupled to the intermediate and driving shaftcoupling portions 56 and 58 in any suitable manner in the couplingconfiguration to ensure that the intermediate and driving shaft couplingportions 56 and 58 are jointly rotatable. For example, the intermediateand driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58 each have a transversalcross-sectional configuration lacking continuous rotational symmetry,such as, for example and non-limitingly, a substantially polygonaltransversal cross-sectional configuration. In other words, theintermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58 each have atransversal cross-sectional configuration that differs from a circle.The collar 60 is hollow and substantially fittingly receives theintermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58 so that inthe coupling configuration, the collar 60 is jointly rotatable about thedriving shaft rotation axis 46 along with the intermediate and drivingshafts 52 and 44.

In some embodiments, the shaft coupling element 54 is selectivelylockable in the coupling configuration. However, in other embodiments,this is not the case. More specifically, for example, the shaft couplingelement 54 also includes a locking pin 64. At least one of theintermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58, the drivingshaft coupling portion 58 in the embodiment shown in the drawings,defines a pin receiving aperture 66 extending laterally therethrough andthe collar 60 defines a pair of collar apertures 68 extending laterallytherethrough laterally opposed to each other. In the couplingconfiguration, the collar apertures 68 are in register with the pinreceiving aperture 66 and the locking pin 64 is insertable through boththe collar apertures 68 and the pin receiving aperture 66 to lock theshaft coupling element 54 in the coupling configuration. Removing thelocking pin 64 from the the collar apertures 68 and the pin receivingaperture 66 then allows to slide the collar 60 relative to theintermediate and driving shaft coupling portions 56 and 58 to achievethe uncoupling configuration.

The motor 40 is coupled to the intermediate shaft 52 in any suitablemanner. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the motor 40 includes a motoroutput shaft 70 and a worm gear 72 extends between the motor outputshaft 70 and the intermediate shaft 52 coupling the motor 40 and theintermediate shaft 52 to each other so that the motor 40 can rotate theintermediate shaft 52. The worm gear 72 includes a worm 74 driven by themotor output shaft 70 and a worm wheel 76 extending radially outwardlyfrom the intermediate shaft 52 and jointly rotatable therewith. The worm74 engages the worm wheel 76. Typically, but not exclusively, the wormwheel 76 is permanently engaged with the worm 74 during normal operationof the device 10, whether the actuator assembly 34 is in the motorizedor manual configurations.

The actuator body 47 is configured to securely mount thereto the motor40, worm gear 72, intermediate shaft 52 and driving shaft 44. Theactuator body 47 is mounted to the container 14 in any suitable manner.An example of such a suitable manner is further described hereinbelow.

In the manual configuration, the crank 42 is secured to the drivingshaft 44, as seen in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, not shown in thedrawings, the crank 42 is permanently secured to the driving shaft 44.However, in other embodiments, as illustrated in the drawings, the crank42 is removably mountable to the remainder of the actuator assembly 34.

For example, the crank 42 includes a crank attachment portion 78, acrank handle 80 and a crank spacing portion 82 extending therebetween.The crank attachment portion 78 is mountable to a protruding portion ofthe driving shaft 44 that protrudes from the intermediate shaft 52opposite to the transmission assembly 36. For example, the crankattachment portion 78 is removably mountable to the driving shaftcoupling portion 58 when the collar 60 is withdrawn therefrom. To thateffect, the crank attachment portion 78 defines a crank aperture 84substantially snugly receiving the driving shaft coupling portion 58.When the crank 42 is mounted to the driving shaft coupling portion 58,the crank handle 80 is offset from the driving shaft rotation axis 46and can be rotated about the driving shaft rotation axis 46 to turn thedriving shaft 44 thereabout.

In some embodiments, The device 10 defines a crank receiving element 86,for example a collar opening substantially vertically, for receiving thecrank 42 thereinto when the crank 42 is detached from the driving shaft44. The crank receiving element is configured to that the crankattachment portion 78 and crank spacing portion 82 can be receivedtherethrough, but so as to prevent the crank handle 80 from passingtherethrough. Therefore, the crank 42 can be safely stowed when not inuse.

The transmission assembly 36 transmits the rotation of the driving shaft44 to the rod 32. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly 34 isprovided close to the container bottom wall 16 so as to be relativelyeasily operable in the manual configuration. The transmission assembly36 must therefore transmit this rotation of the driving shaft 44 up tothe rod 32, which is provided adjacent the container top aperture 20.

In some embodiments, the transmission assembly 36 is configured andsized so that a distance between the driving shaft 44 and the rod 32remains substantially constant as the rod 32 moves between the rod firstand second positions. This may require in some embodiments that theactuator assembly 34 be mounted so as to be movable relative to thecontainer 10.

More specifically, with reference to FIG. 1, in a specific embodiment,the transmission assembly includes an elongated arm 90 defining an armlongitudinal axis 92. The arm 90 defines substantially opposed arm firstand second ends 94 and 96, seen for example respectively in FIGS. 4 and13. As better seen in FIG. 4, The arm first end 94 is substantiallyadjacent to the driving shaft 44. As better seen in FIG. 13, the armsecond end 96 is substantially adjacent to the rod 32. Returning to FIG.1, the arm 90 is operatively coupled to the driving shaft 44 and rod 32so that rotation of the driving shaft 44 about the driving shaftrotation axis (not shown in FIG. 1) causes rotation of the arm 90 aboutthe arm longitudinal axis 92, which in turn causes rotation of the rod32 about the rod longitudinal axis 38. The arm 90 extends substantiallyperpendicular to the rod 32 and is pivotable relative to the drivingshaft 44 between arm first and second positions, shown respectively inFIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the rod 32 is respectively in the rod first andsecond positions.

In some embodiments, as shown in the drawings, the arm 90 is a fixedlength arm so that a distance between the driving shaft 44 and the rod32 is fixed. However, in other embodiments, the arm 90 may be atelescopic arm having a variable length. In such embodiments, theactuator assembly 34 may be fixed relative to the container 14.

The transmission assembly 36 also includes gearboxes and othercomponents that allow pivotal movements of the arm 90 and allowtransmission of the rotation of the driving shaft 44 to the rod 32. Forexample, the driving shaft 44 is substantially horizontal and thetransmission assembly includes a first 90 degrees gearbox 100 betweenthe arm 90 and the driving shaft 44 and a second 90 degrees gearbox 102between the arm 90 and the rod 32. The arm 32 is coupled to the first 90degrees gearbox 100 using a universal joint 104 to allow pivotalmovement of the arm 90 between the arm first and second positions as therod 32 moves between the rod first and second positions.

In some embodiments, the path of the rod 32 between the rod first andsecond positions differs from an arc segment centered on the universaljoint 104 with a radius of curvature equal to the length of the arm 90.Therefore, the arm 90 needs to be telescopic, or the location aboutwhich the arm 90 pivots needs to move relative to the container 14. Thislast option is illustrated in the drawings.

More specifically, the device 10 includes a mounting bracket 106 securedto the transmission assembly 34 for mounting the transmission assembly36 to the container peripheral wall 18. The mounting bracket 106 isconfigured and sized for allowing vertical movements the arm 90 relativeto the container peripheral wall 18. This is achieved by suitablymounting part of the transmission assembly 36 thereto. In someembodiments, the actuator assembly 34 is also mounted to the mountingbracket 106.

Referring for example to FIG. 7, the mounting bracket 106 includes abase 108 fixedly secured to the container peripheral wall 18 (not shownin FIG. 7, and a bracket mobile portion 110 movable vertically relativeto the container 14. The arm 90 is mechanically coupled to the bracketmobile portion 110 at the arm first end 94 so that the arm first end 94is vertically movable along with the bracket mobile portion 110, forexample through the first 90 degrees gearbox 100.

The mounting bracket 106 also includes a pair of levers 112 extendingsubstantially parallel to each other and vertically spaced apart fromeach other. In some embodiments of the invention, two pairs of levers112 are provided. The two pairs of levers 112 are substantially parallelto each other and spaced apart from each other in a direction leadingbetween the container first and second ends 11 and 13. Each lever 112 ispivotally mounted at one end 114 thereof to the base 108 and pivotallymounted at another end 116 thereof to the bracket mobile portion 110.

The bracket mobile portion 110 takes for example the form of a frame towhich other components may be secured. For example, the actuatorassembly 34 is mounted to the bracket mobile portion 110, along withpart of the transmission assembly 36. More generally, one of theactuator and transmission assemblies 34 and 36 is mounted to the bracketmobile portion 110. In the embodiment illustrates in FIGS. 6 and 7, thefirst 90 degrees gearbox 100 is mounted to the bracket mobile portion soas to be rotated by the actuator assembly 34.

As seen in FIG. 1, the base 108 is mounted to the container 14 on thecontainer first side 15, for example substantially adjacent thecontainer bottom wall 16 and substantially midway between the containerfirst and second ends 11 and 13.

Any suitable container 14 may be used with the device 10. The tarpaulin12 is supported by the container 14 when moving between the tarpaulinfirst and second positions. To that effect, the container 14 defines atleast one tarpaulin support 118 extending between the container firstand second ends 11 and 13 across the container top aperture 20. Forexample, the at least one tarpaulin support includes at least two arches120 spaced apart from each other and each extending across the containertop aperture 20 between the container first and second ends 11 and 13.In a specific non-limiting embodiment of the invention, three arches 120are provided, one adjacent each of the container first and second sides15 and 17, and a third one midway between the first two ones. However,any other suitable number of arches 120 is usable. Each arch 120includes for example three rectilinear tubes joined sequentially to eachother. In other embodiments (not shown in the drawings, the at least onetarpaulin support includes part of the top aperture peripheral edge 22on which the rod 32 and/or tarpaulin 12 are supported.

In some embodiments, a support rod 122 is mounted to the tarpaulin 12 ata location intermediate the tarpaulin first and second ends 28 and 30.For example the support rod 122 is provided so that when the tarpaulin12 is in the extended configuration, the support rod 122 is midwaybetween the aperture first and second ends 24 and 26 and extends alongsubstantially the distance between the container first and second sides15 and 17. As seen in FIG. 15, the support rod 122 is rolled around therod 32 along with the tarpaulin 12 when the latter is sufficientlyrolled around the rod 32.

Also, in some embodiments, anchoring blocks 123 are provided. The device10 may include a plurality of anchoring blocks 123 spaced apart fromeach other along the container top aperture 20 substantially adjacentthe aperture second end 26. The anchoring blocks 123 are providedslightly below the aperture second end 26 and each define a recess 125,for example an inverted J-shaped recess 125. The recess 125 opensgenerally towards a plane containing the container bottom wall 16 whenthe anchoring blocks 123 are operatively mounted to the container 14 andthe recess 125 is configured and sized for receiving the rod 32thereinto when arm 90 is in the arm second position.

FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate respectively various biasing element 48 b, 48and 48 a usable in the device 10. The device 10 typically includes twoof these biasing elements 48, 48 a and 48 b, one provided at each end ofthe rod 32, but use of one or more than two biasing elements 48, 48 aand 48 b is within scope of the invention. When more than one biasingelement 48, 48 a and 48 b are used, all the biasing elements 48, 48 aand 48 b may be of the same type, or various types may be mixed in thesame device 10. All the types of biasing elements 48, 48 a and 48 b areprovided to pull the rod 32 towards the rod second position.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown the biasing element 48. The biasingelement 48 includes a coil spring 124 mounted in a tubular body 126fixed to the container 14. One end of the coil spring 124 is fixedrelative tubular body 126 (not shown in the drawings), and a cable 128extends from the other end of the coil spring 124. The cable 128 isrolled around the rod 32 so that it unrolls therefrom when the rod 32 ismoved towards the rod first position and is rolled therearound when therod 32 is moved towards the rod second position. A tension is present inthe coil spring 124 so that the cable 128 pulls on the rod 32 towardsthe rod second position.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown the biasing element 48 a. Thebiasing element 48 a includes a pulley 130 mounted rod 32 so as to berotatable relative thereto. A torsion spring 132 extends between thepulley 130 and the rod 32. A cable 134 is rolled around the pulley 130at one end thereof and is secured to the container 14 at the containersecond end 13 at the other end thereof. The torsion spring 132 isconfigured to exert a torque pulling on the cable 134 so that the cable134 has a tendency to be rolled around the pulley 130, which biases therod 32 towards the rod second position.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown the biasing element 48 b. Thebiasing element 48 b includes a coil spring 136 mounted in the rod 32,which is hollow along at least part thereof. One end of the coil spring136 is fixed longitudinally relative rod 32 (not shown in the drawings),and a cable 138 extends from the other end of the coil spring 136. Thecable 138 protrudes from the rod 32 and is fixed to the container 14 atthe container second end 13. A tension is present in the coil spring 136so that the cable 138 pulls on the rod 32 towards the rod secondposition.

Biasing elements similar to the biasing elements 48, 48 a and 48 b, andusable in the device 10 are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,594issued Jul. 22, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,506,912 issued Mar. 24, 2009,both issued to Royer, and US Patent Application Publication 20020021018of Royer published Feb. 21, 2002, the contents of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

In operation, the device 10 works as follows. Taking for example as aninitial configuration the configuration shown in FIG. 2 with theactuator assembly 34 in the motorized configuration, the arm 90 is inthe arm first position. The rod 32 is thus in the rod first positionwith the tarpaulin 12 rolled therearound. The biasing element 48 biasesthe rod 32 towards the rod second position. However, the structure ofthe motor 40 and of the components linking the motor 40 to the rod 32prevents the rod 32 from moving. It should be noted that in alternativeembodiments other components, such as a lock, a clutch or a brake,prevent this movement instead.

When the motor 40 is rotated in a suitable direction, the intermediateshaft 52 is rotated through the worm gear 72. Since the shaft couplingelement 54 is in the coupling configuration, the driving shaft 44 isthen also rotated by the action of the motor 40, which turns the variouselements of the transmission assembly 36 to rotate the rod 32 so thatthe tarpaulin 12 is released from the rod 32. The rod 32 is then free tomove under the action of the biasing element 48 until the extendedconfiguration is achieved. The bracket mobile portion 110 moves up anddown due to the pivotal movement of the levers 112 as the tarpaulinmoves between the tarpaulin retracted and extended configurations toendure that the rod 32 is always supported by the container 14.Retraction of the tarpaulin 12 is achieved by rotating the motor 40 inthe opposite direction.

If for any reason the motor 40 cannot be used to operate the device 10,the actuator assembly 34 is moved to the manual configuration by slidingthe collar 60 so that the driving shaft 44 is free to rotate relative tothe intermediate shaft 52. Then, the crank 42 is mounted to the drivingshaft 44 and can be used to rotate the rod 32 in either direction.

FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate an alternative actuator assembly 34 a similarto the actuator assembly 34. The actuator assembly 34 a is similar instructure and function to the actuator assembly 34 except that thedriving shaft 44 a is vertical and only needs to protrude from theintermediate shaft 52 a at one end thereof. Since the driving shaft 44 ais vertical, the first 90 degrees gearbox 100 can be omitted and thedriving shaft 44 a can be directly coupled to the universal joint 104.

As seen for example in FIG. 18, the driving shaft 44 a is provided witha driving shaft gear 45 a extending circumferentially therearoundoutside of the intermediate shaft 52, for example further away from theintermediate shaft coupling portion 56 than the driving shaft couplingportion 58. Referring to FIG. 17, the crank 42 is part of a crankassembly 43 a including a crank gear 39 a and a crank assembly body 37a. The crank 42 is operatively coupled to the crank gear 39 a forselectively rotating the crank gear 39 a relative to the crank assemblybody 37 a. The crank assembly body 37 a is mountable to a remainder ofthe actuator assembly 34 a so that the crank 42 and driving shaft gears45 a are engaged with each other, for example perpendicular to eachother, so that rotating the crank 42 is may rotate the driving shaft 44a.

For example, the crank assembly 43 a includes a crank assembly shaft 35a rotatably mounted in a suitably located and configured mountingaperture 33 a extending through the crank assembly body 37 a. The crankassembly shaft 35 a protrudes at both ends thereof from the crankassembly body 37 a. The crank 42 and crank gear 39 a are mounted atrespective ends of the crank assembly shaft 35 a so that the crank 42,crank assembly shaft 35 a and crank gear 39 a are jointly rotatable.

The crank assembly body 37 a is typically removably mountable to theremainder of the actuator assembly 34 a so that when operatively mountedthereto, the crank gear 39 a engages the driving shaft gear 45 a so thatrotating the crank gear 39 a rotates the driving shaft gear 45 a. Forexample, the crank assembly body 37 a defines a pair of opposed tongues31 a each slidably receivable in a respective substantially horizontalslit 29 a when the crank assembly 44 a is operatively mounted to theremainder of the actuator assembly 34 a. When the collar 60 is slid sothat the driving shaft 44 a and intermediate shaft 52 a are uncoupledfrom each other, the crank 42 can be rotated to rotate the driving shaft44 a, as in the embodiment of the actuator assembly 34 describedhereinabove.

FIGS. 21 to 24 illustrate an alternative actuator assembly 34 b and analternative transmission assembly 36 b. Referring to FIG. 21, instead ofbeing located substantially midway between the container first andsecond ends 11 and 13, the actuator assembly 34 b is provided at one ofthe container first and second ends 11 and 13, to facilitate access tothe crank 42 b by an intended user. More specifically, instead of beingmounted directly to the mounting bracket 106, the actuator assembly 34 bis mounted to the container 14 substantially adjacent to one of thecontainer first and second ends 11 and 13 (the container second end 13in the specific example illustrated in the drawings).

The transmission assembly 36 b includes an intermediate gearbox 100 b,replacing the first 90 degrees gearbox 100 and an extension shaft 140 b.The extension shaft 140 b extends between the driving shaft 44 b and theintermediate gearbox 100 b. The intermediate gearbox 100 b is mounted tothe bracket mobile portion 110, and the arm 90 is mounted to theintermediate gearbox 100 b similarly to the manner in which the arm 90is mounted to the first 90 degrees gearbox 100. The intermediate gearbox100 b is for example a 90 degrees gearbox. The actuator assembly 34 b,extension shaft 140 b, intermediate gearbox 100 b and arm 90 aremechanically coupled to each other so that rotation of the driving shaft44 b about the driving shaft rotation axis 46 causes rotation of the arm90 about the arm longitudinal axis 92. The extension shaft 140 b istelescopic and is coupled to the driving shaft 44 a and intermediategearbox 100 b with universal joints to accommodate vertical movements ofthe bracket mobile portion 110.

FIG. 22 better illustrate the actuator assembly 34 b. The actuator body47 b is provided with an actuator body mounting bracket 150 b securableto the container 14 (not shown in FIG. 22). The crank 42 b is part of acrank assembly 43 b including a crank assembly shaft 35 b rotatablymounted in a suitably located and configured mounting aperture (notshown in the drawings) extending through a crank assembly body 37 bmountable to the container 14. In some embodiments, the crank assemblyshaft 35 b may be mounted to the crank assembly body 37 b using abearing to facilitate its rotation. In alternative embodiments, theactuator assembly 34 b has any other suitable configuration and ismounted to the container 14 in any other suitable manner.

The crank assembly shaft 35 b protrudes at both ends thereof from thecrank assembly body 37 b. The crank assembly shaft 35 b may extendintegrally from the driving shaft 44 b, or, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24,may be coupled thereto axially through a bearing 31 b opposed to thecrank 42 b (not shown in FIGS. 23 and 24). The bearing 31 b allows thecrank assembly shaft 35 b and the driving shaft 44 b to rotate freelyrelative to each other. To achieve the manual configuration, the collar60 is moved to overlap a crank shaft coupling portion 29 b similar incross-section to the driving shaft coupling portion 58, thereby allowinglocked joint rotation of the crank assembly shaft 35 b and driving shaft44 b. Motorized and manual configurations are illustrated in FIGS. 23and 24 respectively.

When the bearing 31 b is used, the crank 42 may be permanently leftsecured to the crank assembly shaft 35 b as in motorized operation, thecollar 60 is withdrawn from the crank shaft coupling portion 29 b androtation of the driving shaft 44 b does not cause rotation of the crankassembly shaft 35 b.

In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 21, the crank assembly 43 b isprovided with a conventional ratchet type mechanism 27 b. The ratchettype mechanism 27 b is configurable to prevent rotation of the crank 42b in an undesired direction, while allowing rotation of the crank 42 bin the opposite direction.

FIG. 20 illustrates illustrates yet another actuator and transmissionassemblies 34 c and 36 c configuration. The actuator and transmissionassemblies 34 c and 36 c are similar to the actuator and transmissionassemblies 34 b and 36 b except that the extension shaft 140 c isprovided between the driving shaft 44 c and the crank assembly shaft 35b, and is therefore part of the actuator assembly 34 c instead of beingpart of the transmission assembly 36 c. The driving shaft 44 c istherefore directly attached to the intermediate gearbox 100 c.Otherwise, the actuator and transmission assemblies 34 c and 36 c andthe actuator and transmission assemblies 34 b and 36 b operate similarlyand have similar structures.

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the motor 40, worm gear 72and intermediate shaft 52 are omitted and that in these embodiments, theactuator assembly 34, 34 a or 34 b is completely manually operated. Insome of these embodiments, embodiments, the actuator assembly may besimilar to the actuator assembly 34, except for the absence of thecomponents required for motorized operation. In other such embodiments,the actuator assembly 34 d and transmission assembly 36 d may be asillustrated in FIG. 19, which is similar to the actuator assembly 34 cand transmission assembly 36 c, except that the the motor 40, worm gear72 and intermediate shaft 52 are omitted. The extension shaft 104 d istherefore coupled to the intermediate gearbox 100 d for joint rotationtherewith.

In yet other embodiments, as seen in FIGS. 25 and 26, an actuatorassembly 34 e is similar to the actuator assembly 34 d except that theactuator assembly 34 e includes a crank extension shaft 141 e supportingthe crank 42 e. The crank extension shaft 141 e is telescopic so as tobe configurable between a retracted configuration (seen in FIG. 25) andan extended configuration (seen in FIG. 26). In the retractedconfiguration, the crank 42 e is retracted from the container second end33 so that the crank 42 e is not exposed when not needed. In theextended configuration, the crank 32 e protrudes from the containersecond end 33 so that the crank 42 e can be operated as describedhereinabove. In some embodiments, a crank securing member 143 e isprovided adjacent the crank 42 e and engages a suitably shaped containersecuring member 145 e to stabilize the crank 42 e in the extendedconfiguration.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofexemplary embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of thisinvention. Accordingly, the scope of the claims should not be limited bythe exemplary embodiments, but should be given the broadestinterpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The presentinvention can thus be modified without departing from the spirit andnature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for handling a tarpaulin to cover atleast part of a container using the tarpaulin, the container defining acontainer bottom wall, a container peripheral wall extending therefromand a container top aperture delimited by a container top edge of thecontainer peripheral wall substantially opposed to the container bottomwall, the container top aperture defining an aperture first end and asubstantially opposed aperture second end, the tarpaulin defining atarpaulin first end and a substantially opposed tarpaulin second end,the tarpaulin being secured to the container at the tarpaulin first endsubstantially opposed to the aperture second end and movable betweentarpaulin retracted and extended configurations in which the tarpaulinis respectively substantially retracted from the container top apertureand extended across the container top aperture, the device comprising: arod defining a rod longitudinal axis, the rod being movable between rodfirst and second positions wherein the rod is respectively substantiallyadjacent the aperture first and second ends, the tarpaulin beingmountable to the rod at the tarpaulin second end to allow rolling of thetarpaulin thereonto and unrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when therod is rotated about the rod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly,the actuator assembly including an actuator and a driving shaft defininga substantially longitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, the actuatorbeing mechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotatingthe driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis; and atransmission assembly between the actuator assembly and the rod, thetransmission assembly being operatively coupled to the actuator assemblyand to the rod for transmitting rotations of the driving shaft to therod so that rotation of the driving shaft about the driving shaftrotation axis causes rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinalaxis; wherein the transmission assembly is configured and sized so thata distance between the driving shaft and the rod remains substantiallyconstant as the rod moves between the rod first and second positions;and wherein rotating the rod using the actuator to roll the tarpaulintherearound moves the rod towards the rod first position to move thetarpaulin to the tarpaulin retracted configuration and rotating the rodusing the actuator to unroll the tarpaulin therefrom moves the rodtowards the rod second position to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulinextended configuration.
 2. The device as defines in claim 1, furthercomprising a mounting bracket secured to the actuator and transmissionassemblies for mounting the actuator and transmission assemblies to thecontainer peripheral wall, the mounting bracket being configured andsized for allowing vertical movements of the actuator and transmissionassemblies relative to the container peripheral wall.
 3. The device asdefined in claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket includes a base fixedlysecurable to the container peripheral wall and a pair of leversextending substantially parallel to each other and vertically spacedapart from each other, each lever being pivotally mounted at one endthereof to the base and pivotally mounted at another end thereof to oneof the actuator and transmission assemblies.
 4. The device as defined inclaim 2, wherein the transmission assembly includes an elongated armdefining an arm longitudinal axis, the arm defining substantiallyopposed arm first and second ends, the arm first end being substantiallyadjacent to the driving shaft and the arm second end being substantiallyadjacent to the rod, the arm being operatively coupled to the drivingshaft and rod so that rotation of the driving shaft about the drivingshaft rotation axis causes rotation of the arm about the armlongitudinal axis, which in turn causes rotation of the rod about therod longitudinal axis, the arm extending substantially perpendicular tothe rod and being pivotable relative to the driving shaft between armfirst and second positions, wherein the rod is respectively in the rodfirst and second positions.
 5. The device as defined in claim 4, whereinthe arm is a fixed length arm.
 6. The device as defined in claim 4,wherein the transmission assembly includes a first 90 degrees gearboxbetween the arm and the driving shaft and a second 90 degrees gearboxbetween the arm and the rod, the arm being coupled to the first 90degrees gearbox using a universal joint to allow pivotal movement of thearm between the arm first and second positions as the rod moves betweenthe rod first and second positions.
 7. The device as defined in claim 1,further comprising a biasing element operatively coupled to the rod forbiasing the rod towards the rod second position.
 8. The device asdefined in claim 2, wherein the actuator includes at least one of amotor and a crank operatively coupled to the driving shaft forselectively rotating the driving shaft.
 9. The device as defined inclaim 8, wherein the actuator assembly includes the motor and the crank,the actuator assembly being configurable between a motorizedconfiguration and a manual configuration, wherein, in the motorizedconfiguration, the motor is mechanically coupled to the driving shaftfor selectively rotating the driving shaft about the driving shaftrotation axis when the motor is powered, and, in the manualconfiguration, the motor is uncoupled from the driving shaft and thecrank is mechanically coupled to the driving shaft so that the crank isusable to selectively rotate the driving shaft independently of themotor.
 10. A covered vehicle container, comprising: a container defininga container bottom wall, a container top aperture above the containerbottom wall, opposed container first and second ends and opposedcontainer first and second sides each extending between the containerfirst and second ends, the container defining at least one tarpaulinsupport extending between the container first and second ends across thecontainer top aperture; a tarpaulin defining tarpaulin first and secondends, the tarpaulin being secured to the container first endsubstantially adjacent to the tarpaulin first end, the tarpaulin beingmovable between tarpaulin retracted and extended configurations in whichthe tarpaulin is respectively substantially retracted from the containertop aperture and extended across the container top aperture; and adevice for handling the tarpaulin, the device including: a rod defininga rod longitudinal axis, the rod being movable between rod first andsecond positions wherein the rod is respectively substantially adjacentthe container first and second ends, the tarpaulin being mounted to therod at the tarpaulin second end to allow rolling of the tarpaulinthereonto and unrolling of the tarpaulin therefrom when the rod isrotated about the rod longitudinal axis; an actuator assembly, theactuator assembly including an actuator and a driving shaft defining asubstantially longitudinal driving shaft rotation axis, the actuatorbeing mechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotatingthe driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis; a transmissionassembly between the actuator assembly and the rod, the transmissionassembly being operatively coupled to the actuator assembly and to therod for transmitting rotations of the driving shaft to the rod so thatrotation of the driving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axiscauses rotation of the rod about the rod longitudinal axis; and abiasing element operatively coupled to the rod for biasing the rodtowards the rod second position; wherein the transmission assemblyincludes an elongated arm defining an arm longitudinal axis, the armbeing a fixed length arm and defining substantially opposed arm firstand second ends, the arm first end being substantially adjacent to thecontainer bottom wall and the arm second end being substantiallyadjacent to the container top aperture, the arm being operativelycoupled to the driving shaft and rod so that rotation of the drivingshaft about the driving shaft rotation axis causes rotation of the armabout the arm longitudinal axis, which in turn causes rotation of therod about the rod longitudinal axis, the arm extending substantiallyperpendicular to the rod and being pivotable relative to the drivingshaft between arm first and second positions, wherein the rod isrespectively in the rod first and second positions; wherein the arm isoperatively coupled to the container and to the actuator assembly at thearm first end so that a vertical distance between the arm first end andthe container bottom wall is allowed to vary as the rod moves betweenthe rod first and second positions; wherein rotating the rod using theactuator assembly to roll the tarpaulin therearound moves the rodtowards the rod first position to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulinretracted configuration and rotating the rod using the actuator assemblyto unroll the tarpaulin therefrom moves the rod towards the rod secondposition to move the tarpaulin to the tarpaulin extended configuration.11. The covered vehicle container as defines in claim 10, furthercomprising a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket including a basefixedly mounted to the container and a bracket mobile portion movablevertically relative to the container, the arm being mechanically coupledto the bracket mobile portion at the arm first end so that the arm firstend is vertically movable along with the bracket mobile portion.
 12. Thecovered vehicle container as defined in claim 11, wherein the mountingbracket includes a pair of levers extending substantially parallel toeach other and vertically spaced apart from each other, each lever beingpivotally mounted at one end thereof to the base and pivotally mountedat another end thereof to the bracket mobile portion.
 13. The coveredvehicle container as defined in claim 11, wherein the actuator assemblyis mounted to the bracket mobile portion.
 14. The covered vehiclecontainer as defined in claim 12, wherein the base is mounted to thecontainer on the container first side.
 15. The covered vehicle containeras defined in claim 14, wherein the base is mounted substantially midwaybetween the container first and second ends.
 16. The covered vehiclecontainer as defined in claim 15, wherein the actuator assembly ismounted to the container substantially adjacent to one of the containerfirst and second ends, the transmission including an intermediategearbox and an extension shaft, the extension shaft extending betweenthe driving shaft and the intermediate gearbox, the intermediate gearboxbeing mounted to the bracket mobile portion, and the arm being mountedto the intermediate gearbox, the actuator assembly, extension shaft,intermediate gearbox and arm being mechanically coupled to each other sothat rotation of the driving shaft about the shaft longitudinal axiscauses rotation of the arm about the arm longitudinal axis.
 17. Thecovered vehicle container as defined in claim 15, wherein the drivingshaft is mounted to the bracket mobile portion, the actuator assemblyfurther including a crank shaft provided substantially adjacent one ofthe container first and second ends, the actuator being mechanicallycoupled to the crank shaft so as to rotate the latter about a crankshaft rotation axis, an extension shaft being provided between the crankshaft and the driving shaft to transmit rotations of the crank shaft tothe driving shaft to rotate the latter.
 18. The covered vehiclecontainer as defined in claim 17, wherein the extension shaft is coupledto the driving and crank shafts with universal joints.
 19. The coveredvehicle container as defined in claim 10, wherein the transmissionassembly includes a first 90 degrees gearbox between the arm and thedriving shaft and a second 90 degrees gearbox between the arm and therod, the arm being coupled to the first 90 degrees gearbox using auniversal joint to allow pivotal movement of the arm between the armfirst and second positions as the rod moves between the rod first andsecond positions.
 20. The device as defined in claim 10, wherein theactuator includes at least one of a motor and a crank operativelycoupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotating the driving shaft.21. The device as defined in claim 20, wherein the actuator assemblyincludes the motor and the crank, the actuator assembly beingconfigurable between a motorized configuration and a manualconfiguration, wherein, in the motorized configuration, the motor ismechanically coupled to the driving shaft for selectively rotating thedriving shaft about the driving shaft rotation axis when the motor ispowered, and, in the manual configuration, the motor is uncoupled fromthe driving shaft and the crank is mechanically coupled to the drivingshaft so that the crank is usable to selectively rotate the drivingshaft independently of the motor.